Friday Night Lights: Back in Blue

There are a lot of great storylines when it comes to the Havre High football team. But possibly the best among them, has been the play of Nate Rismon.

Rismon, a senior who plays both wide receiver and cornerback for the Blue Ponies, has come a long way from where he was a year ago at this time — when he was relegated to the sidelines. That's because in the opening game of the 2014 season, Rismon broke his leg. He played a half of football and caught one touchdown pass. Then, suddenly, it was over.

The Ponies missed Rismon, who earned Second-Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore in 2013, but Rismon missed playing the game just as much.

"Sitting out and watching what other teams are doing and stuff like that can help you get better," Rismon said. "But not being able to play just really made me want to get back. I am just working as hard as I can and playing the game."

Rismon isn't just playing the game, he is dominating it. And his dynamic play on both sides of the ball has helped key a four-game winning streak for the Ponies, who are now 5-2 on the season and one win away from their first Central A conference title since 2011.

The winning streak, which started against Sidney, is also when Rismon transformed himself from a good player into a great one.

In the Ponies 26-21 win over the Eagles, Rismon caught eight passes for 114 yards. He also scored two touchdowns, one on a kickoff return that put Havre in control of the game. From that night on, Havre has played like a different team.

Yet, ever since the Sidney game, Rismon has been the same, and in his last four games he has put up staggering numbers.

The three-sport athlete, who also stars in basketball and track for HHS, has hauled in 22 receptions for 461 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 47 yards and two scores in the same timespan. That means with his kickoff return for a touchdown, he has found the end zone nine times in four games, while racking up 508 yards from scrimmage.

"I am just trying to work my butt off," Rismon said. "We have a lot of good coaches, so I've listened to them and I listen to Dane (Warp), what he's saying. Our second-team defense has also helped us out by being good scouts for us, so all that comes in hand."

For weeks now, it seems like whenever a big play has been needed on offense, Rismon has been there to make it. Last week, in Havre's win over Belgrade, the Ponies found themselves trailing 14-7. That was until Rismon caught a 93-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dane Warp to even the score.

Later in the game, Rismon put the final nail in the coffin, as he scored on a reverse from 14 yards out mid-way through the fourth quarter to extend the Pony lead to 40-20.

Now Rismon and the Ponies are on the doorstep of a conference championship. Tonight's game at Blue Pony Stadium against the Lewistown Eagles will decide everything for HHS.

If Havre wins, the Ponies are conference champs. A loss, on the other hand, means uncertainty. In that scenario, the league champion would likely be determined via a tiebreaker.

The game will also be Rismon's final game under the lights at Blue Pony, because regardless of what happens, the Ponies won't play another night game at home this season. But, if all goes well against the Eagles, they have at least one more in front of the hometown fans on Nov. 7 in the Class A state quarterfinals.

"It's going to be a great night for us." Rismon said.

This season has been a great one for Rismon. He leads the team in receptions with 35 and receiving yards with 620. He has 11 total touchdowns and if that wasn't enough he also has 31 tackles and four pass deflections as the anchor of the Havre secondary.

There is no doubt that Rismon has had an All-State caliber season, on both sides of the ball, but he's not thinking about that. He's just enjoying his time on the field and soaking in every moment. After missing so much of his junior season, who could blame him.